The BBC’s kids channel is shaking things up for its 2009 season, shedding older shows and commissioning a whack of new ones.
The new raft of programming with a decidedly dramatic bent. New seasons of The Sarah Jane Adventures and gadget-packed M.I. High are on the sked, as well as new light family dramas Half Moon Investigations (13 x half-hours), We Are Family(working title)(13 x half-hours) and beachside paranormal mystery Paradise Café(13 x half hours) from UK prodco Initial. The final new edition, Roy(13 x half-hours) from Ireland’s JAM Media should inject some comedy to the lineup, as it tells the tale of cartoon boy Roy living in the real world. (KidScreen tapped this one as a Cool New Show last October.)
Both Half Moon and We Are Family are in-house CBBC productions. In addition, the net has also committed to a drama based in north-east London to be developed by Lime Pictures and delivered in time for the 2009/10 season.
To make way for the new programming sked, long- running series Grange Hill will take its final bow after 30 years on-air.
Following a relaunch of the channel in September 2007, CBBC’s has upped its share to 37% from 27% last year.